Navis implementation at NY terminal plagues Maher

Friday, June 28, 2013

Maher Terminals has had difficulties integrating a new Navis terminal operating system at its facility in the Port of New York and New Jersey, forcing 11 vessels as of Friday to be diverted to other terminals in the port over the past two weeks.
Shippers and truckers have had to pick up cargo at alternate terminals, creating traffic congestion and need for additional chassis at some terminals or pickups of chassis at alternative locations.
An update on Maher's home Webpage showed most of the vessels diverted over the past two weeks have been docked at the adjacent APM Terminals facility in New Jersey. Others have been diverted to berths at the Global Container Terminals, PNCT, and New York Container Terminals facilities. The diverted ships are operated by APL, Hanjin, "K" Line, MOL, Yang Ming, and Zim.
The problems started in early June as Maher transitioned to Navis' SPARCS N4 system, an implementation that began in April. Problems have persisted through the rest of the month. Maher reported it had to close inbound gates June 10 due to problems processing trucks. Gates reopened June 13, but vessel diversions began from June 14.
"With the implementation of new systems, there is always a risk of initial declines in productivity as new operating procedures and processes are streamlined into the operation," Navis and Maher Terminals said in a joint statement. "Maher has undertaken numerous proactive temporary measures including free time extensions, waivers of demurrage, supplementing trucker detention claims, and subcontracting vessel calls to neighboring facilities in the interest of operating fluidity."
Maher said Friday that the demurrage waiver had been extended through June 28.
"During this transition period, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to our customers and partners for their support, patience, and understanding," the companies said. "Maher Terminals and Navis will continue to commit maximum resources to seeing this implementation through to its successful completion and return to the exceptional service levels upon which the reputation of Maher Terminals has been built."
TRAC Intermodal, operator of the Metro Chassis Pool in the port, said it's taking steps to ensure availability of marine chassis in the port and rail complex, but added as of last night 40-foot and 45-foot chassis availability was low.
It asked trucking companies to send drivers to the off-dock Maher Chassis Depot to obtain bare chassis for diverted vessels. - Chris Dupin and Eric Johnson